Authorities have identified 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the man accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members in a daylight attack just steps from the White House.
Investigators say the ambush unfolded near the Farragut West area, where the soldiers were conducting a routine patrol. Lakanwal allegedly approached the guardsmen and opened fire, striking both before a nearby service member returned shots and brought the gunman down. He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries.
The wounded guardsmen were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, prompting an immediate surge in security around central Washington. Multiple federal agencies are now investigating the shooting, which officials have described as a targeted assault.
The attack has intensified scrutiny of safety protocols in the nation’s capital as authorities examine the suspect’s background and possible motives.